Andrew Bogut's Offensive Role Reveals Steve Kerr's Designs for Warriors

For his defensive presence alone, Andrew Bogut means as much to the Golden State Warriors as any player on the roster.

But first-year head coach Steve Kerr has never seen the 7-footer through a one-way lens. In Kerr's eyes, Bogut has the ability to play just as critical of a role at the offensive end.

Kerr laid out that blueprint when the pair connected in Australia over the offseason. With shooters, slashers and cutters surrounding the big guy, Kerr saw Bogut as an ideal offensive hub.

"Andrew's one of the best passing centers in the league," Kerr said during training camp, per Antonio Gonzalez of The Associated Press. "He's one of the best I've ever seen, and so for us to get him the ball on the elbows as a dribble-handoff guy, backdoor-pass guy, that will be emphasized."

Kerr has utilized Bogut's offensive arsenal at every opportunity, although the former top pick's increased involvement isn't immediately noticed on the stat sheet.

His scoring (6.8) and field-goal percentage (52.1) have both fallen from last season (7.3 and 62.7, respectively). His rebounds have slightly increased (10.8 from 10.0), but that can be attributed to a rise in playing time (29.1 minutes from 26.4).

To find the way the big guy has been featured, one needs to know where to look. Check any category related to those transcendent passing skills, and you'll see Bogut sprinting toward a new personal best.

"He's such a good passer from the top of the key or anywhere on the floor," Klay Thompson said, per Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle. "He's just showing what he can do on offense, and we want to play through him as much as possible."

Bogut is on pace to set career highs in both assists per 36 minutes (3.7) and assists percentage (14.8). He had five helpers during Golden State's 107-99 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, which was the third time he dropped that many dimes in his last five games.

Under former coach Mark Jackson, Bogut had a total of six games with five assists the past two seasons.

The numbers are representative of a team-wide commitment to improve the movement of ball and player this season. Kerr has combined elements of what he learned at his previous NBA stops to produce an offense that values pace, floor spacing and passing.

As Golden State's league-worst 20.8 turnovers-per-game average would indicate, this is very much a work in progress. But it has already produced some tangible results.

After tossing out the fewest passes of any team last season (245.8 per game, via NBA.com's player tracking data), the Warriors have jumped to No. 9 this year with 321.4 passes a night. They have added more than three points to their assist percentage (62.5, up from 59.1), which has moved them from 12th on that list to fifth.

The Warriors aren't hurting for players capable of creating their own looks, but they are trying to put even more pressure on opposing defenses by keeping all over their weapons involved.

"If you stay on one side side of the floor, try to get an iso, after a while it puts a lot of pressure on Steph and Klay," Bogut told San Jose Mercury News' Tim Kawakami. "If you start moving the ball, you start getting some cheap baskets, everyone kind of gets involved, everyone is feeling good."

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Bogut, now being used in a similar way to Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, has had plenty of reasons to feel good of late. After being a forgotten piece of this offense the past two seasons, he has now become one of its key components.

He's averaging 48.2 passes per game, which ranks 44th overall, or nearly 16 more than he did last season (32.6). And that number looks like it may continue to grow. He had 66 passes during Thursday's win, second only to Stephen Curry's 72. During the game, Golden State matched its season high with 30 assists and set a season low with 10 turnovers.

Those numbers may not all have been the work of Bogut, but the big guy's fingerprints were easy to spot on the stat sheet, as San Jose Mercury News' Adam Lauridsen explained:

"

In response to the recent surge in turnovers, the Warriors seem to have turned to Andrew Bogut for help.  He ran more of the top-of-the-key offense than we’ve seen all season, and he did a masterful job reading the court and finding open teammates.  His 5-assist, 1-turnover line belies just how instrumental his pinpoint passing was in creating high-percentage looks close to the basket.

"

Bogut pairs incredibly well with his teammates at the offensive end.

His vision has helped turn Harrison Barnes into a potent weapon as an off-ball cutter. The 22-year-old has nearly a 13-point increase in field-goal percentage from last season (39.9) to this one (52.7).

Bogut's wide frame and mobility make him an ideal pick-and-roll partner. And his basketball IQ helps him understand when to give guys a dribble handoff and how to help them create space when he does.

His passing has helped make Curry an even more unbelievable shooter than before. On passes from Bogut, Curry has converted 56.8 percent of his field goals and 63.6 percent of his triples.

The Warriors have enough scorers to field an elite offense, but the same could be said of last season's team. That group finished 12th in offensive efficiency. This one has actually fared worse statistically (tied for 17th), but Thursday's performance hinted at the massive potential of this attack.

These players are still learning the offense, and Kerr is still figuring things out about them.

"We're still sort of adjusting and trying to find our identity," Kerr told reporters after the win. "I want them to be explosive, but a little less wild. It can be done, but it's tricky. It's like you don't want to take away their spirit, but you want to be smart, too."

Bogut's game is comprised of an intriguing mix of intelligence, creativity and skill. He takes the occasional risk that he shouldn't, but Kerr, along with offensive guru Alvin Gentry, is helping every player realize the value of each possession.

If the Warriors protect the ball, good things are typically going to happen. This is, after all, the NBA's best shooting team from the field (49.1 percent) and eighth-best team from distance (38.0).

Add an elite defense to the equation—94.7 points allowed per 100 possessions, third overall—and the Warriors have a compelling case to be considered full-fledged title contenders. A lot of players have helped establish that status, but Bogut could be the most critical piece of the puzzle.

"It all goes back to Bogut, one of the keys to their success on both ends," wrote Grantland's Kirk Goldsberry. "His screens, handoffs and passing allow Kerr to add new cool wrinkles on the offense, while his intimidating size and defensive prowess keep opponents at bay on the other side."

Golden State has always valued Bogut highly, but it hasn't always taken advantage of his two-way talent. Kerr made it clear early on he would not make the same mistake, and the Warriors have been reaping the rewards of Bogut's new offensive freedom.

Unless otherwise noted, statistics used courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com.

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